United Methodists are responding to Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth ,a statement of faith and urgent call to action from Christians in Palestine. UMKR seeks, through nonviolent means and in partnership with Palestinian Christians, freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
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RELATED RESOURCES
FROM PART I - Palestine at GC 2024
UMKR Legislation
See all of the Palestine-related legislation for General Conference 2024 and resources for each:
https://www.kairosresponse.org/gc2020_resolutions_resources.html
Exclude Government Debt of Countries Involved in Prolonged Occupations
https://www.kairosresponse.org/gc2020_exclude_bonds_prolonged_occupations.html
Addressing Israeli Detention of Children
https://www.kairosresponse.org/gc2020_israeli_detention_children.html
TAKE ACTION:
Contact Congress to support legislationthat defends Palestinian children and families
human rights:
https://umkr.salsalabs.org/AlertHR3103/index.html
Protecting the Right to Peacefully Address Injustice
https://www.kairosresponse.org/gc2020_right_to_boycott.html
General Agencies Legislation related to Palestine
Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Land
United Nations Resolutions on the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Holy Land Tours
https://www.umcjustice.org/latest/holy-land-tours-188
Other Actions at General Conference: Solidarity with Palestine and Campus Protesters
More Action and News about Palestine at General Conference
Bishops, delegates join rally for Palestine
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-delegates-join-rally-for-palestine
United Methodist Church votes to divest from Israel bonds
https://mondoweiss.net/2024/05/united-methodist-church-votes-to-divest-from-israel-bonds/
Resolution opposes investment in Israeli bonds
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/resolution-opposes-investment-in-israeli-bonds
Bishops, delegates join rally for Palestine
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/bishops-delegates-join-rally-for-palestine
See videos of witness actions at General Conference here
PART II - Other Historic Developments at General Conference
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Church
Historic assembly sets United Methodists on new path
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/historic-assembly-sets-united-methodists-on-new-path
Church ends 52-year-old anti-gay stance
"The United Methodist Church’s condemnation of homosexuality — which sparked a half-century of conflict — is now no more."
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/church-ends-52-year-old-anti-gay-stance
40-year ban on gay clergy struck down
https://www.umnews.org/en/news/40-year-ban-on-gay-clergy-struck-down
Revised Social Principles
Revised Social Principles
The Social Principles Adopted in 2024
with a collection of educational and study resources
A Backgrounder on the new Social Principles
https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/223
Revised Social Principle
Regionalization
UMC leaders speak about regionalization
https://youtu.be/XzwuDyROOic
The Christmas Covenant
https://www.christmascovenant.com/
Regionalization legislation in the UMC
3 minute video -
Worldwide Regionalization: Moving The UMC into a more equitable era
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKNrqeWVxpE
UMC Bishops To Promote Ratification of Regionalization Legislation
https://www.umc.org/en/content/umc-bishops-to-promote-ratification-of-regionalization-legislation
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SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE TO SEE THE WEBINAR AND RELATED RESOURCES.
See videos of witness actions at General Conference
Making History: The United Methodist General Conference of 2024
Wednesday, 11 September 2024
Presented by UMKR and MFSA
In 2024, the world saw the first decision by a Christian denomination to divest from the bonds of the State of Israel, along with two other occupier governments. That landmark action was one of a half dozen prophetic resolutions supporting the Palestinian struggle adopted by the United Methodist Church's General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina in May. Indeed, Palestine seemed to become a secondary theme of the international gathering, including two public actions covered by church and secular media and several statements and prayers from the main podium.
But the biggest global news story from this General Conference was unquestionably the remarkable changes in church law regarding LGBTQ inclusion and equality in all aspects of church life, including the reversal of decades-long policies on same-gender marriage, the ordination of LGBTQ clergy, and more.
UMKR and MFSA present a knowledgeable panel of justice advocacy leaders discussing these landmark decisions and their significance for the church and the world. What are the next steps for justice advocates to build on these legislative decisions and see them fulfilled?
OUR SPEAKERS
LISA BENDER is Chair of the Steering Committee of United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR). She also leads UMKR's Boycott and Divestment Committee and serves on the Leadership Team of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC). Lisa retired after 18 years as the Executive Secretary for the Director of Connectional Ministries of the Susquehanna Conference in Pennsylvania. She continues to serve her conference on the boards of Mission Central, Global Ministries, and Preachers' Aid Society. She served on the Northeast Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy from 2016-2022. Lisa was a delegate to General Conference in 2012, 2016 and 2019 and is again for General Conference 2024.
COLLEEN MOORE is the director of Peace With Justice at the General Board of Church and Society, in the United Methodist Church. In her position, she is responsible for developing and managing the agency’s legislative and policy advocacy in support of peace and justice. She works in coalition with United Methodist faith and secular coalitions to advance GBCS strategic priorities on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, nonproliferation and disarmament, and multilateralism.
Prior to joining GBCS staff, Colleen served as Advocacy Director at Women Cross DMZ, and she recently consulted with several organizations on policy and advocacy, including the American Friends Service Committee and Quincy Institute. She previously held roles at Global Zero, Beyond the Bomb, Win Without War, and Seeds of Peace.
M. THERESA BASILE is Communications Director, Education Chair, and a co-founder of United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), a recent board member of Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), and she has served in leadership with US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR). Throughout her years in the United Methodist Church, she has engaged in inclusive and intersectional justice and peace advocacy on a wide range of issues. Theresa currently serves in the Leadership Teams of the Western Methodist Justice Movement (WMJM) and MFSA in the California-Pacific Conference.
BRIDGET CABRERA (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) and is a mission-driven leader who invests in building strong teams and powerful partnerships to foster collaborative, effective organizational culture and strategy. With over 15 years of non-profit experience Bridget has served as Deputy Director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, a leader in the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, and Executive Secretary for National Ministries with United Methodist Women (UMW).
REV. ISRAEL J. ALVARAN, or Izzy as he is best known, is the Convener of the Christmas Covenant Leadership Team. Originally from the Philippines Annual Conference, today he is an elder in the California-Pacific conference. He has served in various ministry settings as pastor, youth minister and faculty at a UMC university and seminary in the Philippines. A long-time activist, Izzy has extensive experience in community organizing for workers. He is currently under episcopal appointment to serve as an organizer with Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN). and prior to joining RMN, he served as national organizer for economic justice with the UMC General Board of Church and Society.
SEE THE WEBINAR BELOW.
Below the webinar video, you will find related resources, including all those shared during the webinar.
See videos of witness actions for Palestine on this page.
Resources Webinar